Win the bedtime battle
Submitted by: Kevin Chertkow

Bedtime is just around the corner. The kids are playing contently and you notice that it's their bedtime. You brace yourself for the battle to commence.

"Time for bed," you call out. There is a few seconds of silence and then... you are barraged with whining, crying, excuses, stalling and compromises.
 
By the time you've gone through all five steps of the bed time ritual, got their teeth brushed, pajamas on and tucked in for the night; it's a half hour or more past their the designated bedtime.

Completely exhausted you slump on the couch and bask in the silence so you can catch your breath.

Just then little Johnny creeps out of his room and says in the sweetest tiniest voice, "You forgot to get me a glass of water." As calmly as you can you muster that last ounce of patience you have for the evening and pour him a glass of water then tuck him in once again.

Here is a great trick that does wonders for reducing if not eliminating this frustrating ceremony. As a matter of fact, this little trick works in other situations too; like trying to get out the door at a certain time. If you have similar situations like this, here is what you could try.
 
Announce a five to ten minute warning so they know whatever they are doing is going to need to stop and whatever you need them to do is going to happen. "Ten minutes until bedtime!"
 
Doing this gives them time to adjust to the idea they are going to have to stop playing or doing what they are currently doing. It also allows them continue to on with their activity. "Five minutes until bedtime," throwing in another reminder doesn't hurt either.
 
If they start their complaining or trying to stall this early in the game, they get it all out of the way before bedtime rather than after bedtime.  You also have the ability to nip it by reminding them they are wasting their play time complaining.

Do this a few times and see if bedtime or trying to get out the door at a certain time doesn't get a little easier. Your children will take on a little more responsibility for controlling their actions as well as gain some time management skills as they try to squeeze all they can into their last five minutes. You might even notice fewer arguments and tantrums.
 
More importantly, you might find you're less exhausted when you finally get them down for the night. Oh, yeah. Don't forget the glass of water because that excuse always works!

Good Luck!